Can I still drive with a worn inner tie rod?

[iboughtatahoe23]

Hey guys,


Had a free visual alignment check at Les Schwab today. Tech spotted play in the inner tie rod end (passenger side I think, causing the gradual pull to the right). No dash lights, steering feels mostly normal otherwise, but I do get occasional clunks over bumps or in dips at an angle (I thought it was from the sway bar end links or failing struts I replaced recently, but maybe not).


The tech even let me walk up to the vehicle and feel the play for myself—about an eighth of an inch or so when rocking the wheel at 3/9 o’clock. Planning to DIY the inner tie rod swap (Dorman 543-810 or Moog equivalent, using crescent wrench + sledge for leverage—no special tool), then get an alignment right after.


Question: Is it safe to drive short distance? To work at least? (3-5 miles max, low-speed city streets, no highway) to a friend’s shop or alignment place? Or too risky with the clunks and 1/8” play—should I tow/minimize driving?


Anyone had similar clunks/pull from inner tie rod play on 2007-2014 Tahoe/Yukon? How loose is too loose before it’s not drivable short-term? Truck’s a 2014 Tahoe LT, ~187k miles.

Any tips or tricks also appreciated


Thanks—frustrated but fixing it myself. Any tips or experiences appreciated.

 

[Doubeleive]

Hey guys,


Had a free visual alignment check at Les Schwab today. Tech spotted play in the inner tie rod end (passenger side I think, causing the gradual pull to the right). No dash lights, steering feels mostly normal otherwise, but I do get occasional clunks over bumps or in dips at an angle (I thought it was from the sway bar end links or failing struts I replaced recently, but maybe not).


The tech even let me walk up to the vehicle and feel the play for myself—about an eighth of an inch or so when rocking the wheel at 3/9 o’clock. Planning to DIY the inner tie rod swap (Dorman 543-810 or Moog equivalent, using crescent wrench + sledge for leverage—no special tool), then get an alignment right after.


Question: Is it safe to drive short distance? To work at least? (3-5 miles max, low-speed city streets, no highway) to a friend’s shop or alignment place? Or too risky with the clunks and 1/8” play—should I tow/minimize driving?


Anyone had similar clunks/pull from inner tie rod play on 2007-2014 Tahoe/Yukon? How loose is too loose before it’s not drivable short-term? Truck’s a 2014 Tahoe LT, ~187k miles.

Any tips or tricks also appreciated


Thanks—frustrated but fixing it myself. Any tips or experiences appreciated.

your fine, if you are going to be driving it like that for a extended period just rotate the tires more often but eventually the wear will show

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

I meant to say the clunk went away after I replaced the struts and end links- my bad. Seems like these end links are the sacrificial lamb lol

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

your fine, if you are going to be driving it like that for a extended period just rotate the tires more often but eventually the wear will show

Thanks, I’m still gonna get that replaced. Might as well do both sides. Just not today. Hoping for Friday night. Buddy lets me use his shop and matco tools. He’s a good friend

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Yes, get it replaced for sure when possible, because when it lets go, you better hope that there is nothing around you for your truck to crash into, when you have no steering.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Yes, get it replaced for sure when possible, because when it lets go, you better hope that there is nothing around you for your truck to crash into, when you have no steering.

Jesus. Well underload if I go and grab the tie rod with my hands behind the wheel, the actual wheel not the steering wheel. And if I grab that tie rod and shake it, I don’t feel any play. I don’t know if that’s just because it’s under weight though. But I did feel that little bit of play at the three and 9 o’clock position that the technician showed me yesterday. I also sat there, parked and turned my steering wheel all the way both directions and I don’t feel any binding or popping or anything. My steering doesn’t feel loose. It feels normal. I do have a slight gradual pull to the right. Like I said, I recently did my struts, but that could be road crown and it was already kind of there before I did my struts, but I think I just noticed it more because I did my struts.

But anyhow, yeah for sure gonna get that done on Friday. Probably just knock both of them out because if this one’s going out the next one’s probably 6 to 12 months behind it so why pay for two alignments when I could just do both tie rods and pay for one alignment

Hopefully, nothing else is too worn in that department. I think the outer tie rods are pretty solid still.

 

[West 1]

I just replaced my inner and outer tie rods, I used the Moog ES parts. They were not that expensive, Rock Auto, I think all 4 parts were under $150. I can’t see replacing the inner and leaving the old outer tie rods in place? It will need another alignment after doing this job wether you change inner and outer or just do the inner tie rod. Amazon has a tool to help loosen the inner tie rod, it was less than $20, I bought it and it worked perfectly, there is a youtube video showing how to do this job.

 

[alvocado]

Check your steering rack. If you think you will be replacing it in the near future (signs of leaking, etc.), they come with inner tie rods. It will save you the money and hassle of doing the job twice including another alignment.

 

[07burban88]

asking if you can or how long you can drive with worn out suspension components is like eating a lot of left over taco bell for breakfast and working construction on the top of a 100-story building and wondering if you can make it to floor 1 where the porta johns are when ya have to go and there's no elevator lol